Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched sports infrastructure projects worth Rs 660 crore today. According to information shared by the office of the CM, the projects include 48 multipurpose indoor stadiums, Cuttack Table Tennis Academy, Rourkela Gymnastics Academy and 12 hockey training centres.

The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for 11 sports projects on the occasion. These projects have been taken up under 5T initiative to ensure transformation of the sports sector, from grassroots to elite. The inauguration and foundation stone-laying of the infrastructure projects were done virtually over video conference at the new indoor stadium in Pokhariput, Bhubaneswar.

Developed across Odisha, the 48 multipurpose indoor stadiums will have courts, rooms and facilities for sports such as badminton, table tennis, yoga, chess and weightlifting etc. In addition, an upgraded multipurpose indoor hall in Bhawanipatna was also inaugurated.

The Cuttack Table Tennis Academy features 16 premium-quality TT tables, accompanied by a fully-equipped gymnasium and a dedicated weightlifting room. The facility also encompasses a designated area for chess enthusiasts, as well as spaces specifically made for yoga and zumba. Rourkela Gymnastics Academy features international standard equipment and also houses facilities for weightlifting, table tennis, yoga and gym.

The 12 hockey training centres (HTCs), which are equipped with synthetic turfs, will impart professional coaching under the aegis of expert coaches. With this the state now has 23 HTCs (Sundargarh-17, Sambalpur-2, Jajpur-1, Cuttack-1, Ganjam-1, and Bhubaneswar-1)

The 11 infrastructure projects, for which foundation stone was laid, include four multipurpose indoor stadiums in Remuna, Baliguda, Titlagarh and Karanjia; indoor swimming pool in Bhadrak, football training centre, indoor swimming pool and basketball courts in Cuttack, women football training centre in Aul, Kendrapada and hockey training centre in Deogarh, upgradation of Baripada Stadium and Nehru Stadium in Bhadrak etc.

Five-T & Nabin Odisha chairman V Karthik Pandian, Science and Technology Minister Ashok Panda, Sports Minister Tushrakanti Behera, Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das, Development Commissioner Anu Garg and ?Sports Department Secretary Vineel Krishna were present at the project launching and foundation stone laying programme.